Research has examined factors influencing tolerance, in particular ethnic tolerance, prejudice, and trust. Authoritarian personality has been associated with prejudice and intolerance. Education has an inverse association which is stronger in established democracies than in emerging. Different groups are viewed differently and including illegal groups in tolerance surveys may reduce tolerance levels in all countries except the United States. Increased contact with other groups increase tolerance. Increased perception of threat, including from the home land of an ethnic minority, reduces tolerance. Competition over jobs reduces tolerance and occupational segregation reduced ethnic conflicts and ethnic prejudice in studies in the United States and Yugoslavia. Tolerance is increased by democratic stability and a federal system. Increased ethnic heterogeneity increases tolerance up to a point but beyond this tolerance decreases. The negative effect of increased ethnic heterogeneity is stronger when looking at larger areas such as nations compared to smaller areas such as neighborhoods. This may be due to the contact effect being relatively more important at local levels while the threat effect becomes more important in larger areas.[209]

- wiki

It doesn't need to be about color, media or umm intelligence but those can be included when someone wants to justify their reasons for being one. In the end, those people will in a sense fool themselves into being one.

1. You had no control over what color you were when you were born.
2. It's just stupid to think to determine whether or not you will like someone based upon the small gene (Melanin) in the smallest organ (The Skin) in the human body.
3. It's just dumb to believe stereotypes. Not every Muslim is a terrorist, not every black is a criminal, not every Hispanic is illegal and not every white person is well to do in the suburbs.

Personally, I believe that many stereotypes and racial hatred is founded by the media as a tool to keep the races divided to stop us from unifying as a nation against the powerful forces at the top that are taking advantage of us. While we look at our neighbors with a suspicious eye, our rights are being stripped away, we're being taxed into oblivion, our jobs are being shipped out, and we're getting fleeced everywhere from the gas pump to the mortgage on the home. While we're so afraid that the Chinese are going to take us over, the Arabs are here to bomb us, the blacks are here to rob us and the Mexicans are here to steal our income and be a burden on welfare, it's really those in control of this nation who do us the most harm.

Nevertheless, people still treat each other like trash based on nothing more than skin tone and facial features. It's stupid.

What are your thoughts on racism?

What unites the US Americans if it's not culture and/or race? Well, it's fear.

Anyway, yes, I agree that judging someone by his outer appearance is unfair, especially if it's something the given person can not influence, or shouldn't for health's sake (Michael Jackson comes to mind). It's also unfair that people who are already disabled get on top of their disability mocked and mistreated and shunned by society, albeit everybody knows that they can not change the fact that they're "different".

But humans are the way they are - stupid. More stupid than they'd like to be. If you get to work at technical support just for a few weeks or months, you'll see what I mean. People are so intrinsically stupid and arrogant on top of that, that you wish that you could just slam your headset against their heads.

Anyway, racism as it's known is a natural process in humans, as anything that is different could be dangerous or just simply annoys the "norm" race, because it's not like them and thus gets rejected - which is of course simply stupid. From race to culture, what do you think it is, to live in a state where you do have a different belief than others? Most would think that it's easy peacy since we're in the 21. Century. But see, people still get mistreated or badmouthed for not sharing the same belief as the rest of the village. And that in Europe as well as in the USA - places that are considered to be rather high on humane and educational standards.
But just ask yourself, why do you prefer looking at someone whom you consider pretty? We all have our idealized beauties and everyone that does not follow track on that is kind of left out if they do not have other qualities which make them interesting. That's why the beauty industry is such a runner and always was. And you're right about the media having a huge influence on what our ideals are and will become.
Just like designers influence the clothing industry. People are sheepish in nature, and only seldom will you see someone who will go against the main stream, because this requires strength and the ability to accept rejection and move on while still upholding your ideals - that's really hard since most humans are dependent on social structures and society in general. The technological spectrum of this world has however enabled also "others" to become strong, to make their voices heard and to get acceptance. All this thanks to the Internet. Now you see on youtube so many videos of people who've had it really bad in their life and they get a lot of respect from people all over the world, because in spite of their "weakness" they've become strong and have shown to the world that what matters is what lies inside of your head and heart. And that's what we should look up to.

All men should be respected equally as the humans we are. Biologically, we are the same species but we have different variations and skills. For example, we are not equal in intelligence and athletic ability but we are equal in the respect that we are one race, the human race. Anyone who wants to hate and discriminate because of looks or ability should burn in whatever hell they believe in. Racism is pure ignorance.

My thoughts on racism are that we're all homosapiens trying to survive on this planet. Are you seriously gonna dislike me for not being born the same race as you? Is the fact that I'm just a human being like you doesn't matter? But it's an opinion and the last time I check opinions are statements NOT facts. Yes it's ignorant but I've stopped giving a shit about what they think.

I'd be more hesitant about evolutionary arguments: even assuming that something like a preference of the known over the unknown exists in our wiring, that doesn't mean it's what is at play when it comes to racism. That process could also be explained by culturally-imposed fear (rather than naturally). This of course would still depend on our natural capacity to have fear and our natural tendency to folllow the group (assuming those are true), so wiring is still in the picture. However, the difference is that the cultural one can be changed by social processes, whereas the hard-wired processes would require tinkering at that level.

^main point of above paragraph, finally: I'm reluctant to to be discouraged on the assumption that racism is natural. Besides, our advances in genetics may allow us to change that if it were true (I really don't advocate this route though).

However, what does discourage me is the harmfulness of even "small" amounts of racism. For a long time, I thought things were fine enough: not perfect, but better than the bad old days, if you will. (Side-note: I do think that class issues are more pressing than race ones right now. Different topic, though.). But eventually I noticed that dark-skinned people were almost always the last ones to be sat next to in buses and things like that. It's been grating on me ever since, and while I have strong optimisic tendencies, I'm probably a little more sour about racism than when I was younger.

(I should probably mention that I'm not as old as my age says - I changed it because the ads targeted to my demographic became too annoying for me).

The other problem is that there are, of course, dark-skinned people who cause problems, which surely doesn't help the majority who aren't. Well, there are more problems, but for now, I've had my beer and said my piece. Bis später

I'd be more hesitant about evolutionary arguments: even assuming that something like a preference of the known over the unknown exists in our wiring, that doesn't mean it's what is at play when it comes to racism. That process could also be explained by culturally-imposed fear (rather than naturally). This of course would still depend on our natural capacity to have fear and our natural tendency to folllow the group (assuming those are true), so wiring is still in the picture. However, the difference is that the cultural one can be changed by social processes, whereas the hard-wired processes would require tinkering at that level.

^main point of above paragraph, finally: I'm reluctant to to be discouraged on the assumption that racism is natural. Besides, our advances in genetics may allow us to change that if it were true (I really don't advocate this route though).

However, what does discourage me is the harmfulness of even "small" amounts of racism. For a long time, I thought things were fine enough: not perfect, but better than the bad old days, if you will. (Side-note: I do think that class issues are more pressing than race ones right now. Different topic, though.). But eventually I noticed that dark-skinned people were almost always the last ones to be sat next to in buses and things like that. It's been grating on me ever since, and while I have strong optimisic tendencies, I'm probably a little more sour about racism than when I was younger.

(I should probably mention that I'm not as old as my age says - I changed it because the ads targeted to my demographic became too annoying for me).

The other problem is that there are, of course, dark-skinned people who cause problems, which surely doesn't help the majority who aren't. Well, there are more problems, but for now, I've had my beer and said my piece. Bis später

(by the way, is there a badge for excessive parentheses usage?)

Here is an interesting article if you are interested:
"The Economics of Racism," in D. Gordon, ed.,Problems in Political Economy: an UrbanPerspective, D.C. Heath, 1971, and second edition, 1977.

Conclusion: In a society that breeds individuality and competitive ethos racism provides the losers with an opportunity to oppress another (as a group) as compensation of own misery whist overlooking the obvious disadvantages of the capitalist system.

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"Multiculturalism can become a polite and euphemistic way of affirming and persisting unequal power relationships by representing them as equal differences."
Consider this ^

One, that skin color in evolutionary terms came from differing amounts of sunlight over millenia. In other words white people are white because in their original climates, sunlight was a lot more infrequent than in warmer climates. There it is. That's it.

Two, that there will never be racial peace as long somebody feels people owe them something. Every race in history has been in slavery at some point, including white people. Get over it.

Three, that stereotypes are sub-cultural, not racial, and are frequently true.

One, that skin color in evolutionary terms came from differing amounts of sunlight over millenia. In other words white people are white because in their original climates, sunlight was a lot more infrequent than in warmer climates. There it is. That's it.

Two, that there will never be racial peace as long somebody feels people owe them something. Every race in history has been in slavery at some point, including white people. Get over it.

Three, that stereotypes are sub-cultural, not racial, and are frequently true.

Four, that I am permanently racist against stupid people.

Stupid people are not a race making point 4 invalid :)
(Also note that point three is wrong as well, applying such a logic is wrong and means that you fall under that category yourself since it is a stereotype to assume that stereotypes are true)

One, that skin color in evolutionary terms came from differing amounts of sunlight over millenia. In other words white people are white because in their original climates, sunlight was a lot more infrequent than in warmer climates. There it is. That's it.

Two, that there will never be racial peace as long somebody feels people owe them something. Every race in history has been in slavery at some point, including white people. Get over it.

Three, that stereotypes are sub-cultural, not racial, and are frequently true.

Four, that I am permanently racist against stupid people.

Stupid people are not a race making point 4 invalid :)
(Also note that point three is wrong as well, applying such a logic is wrong and means that you fall under that category yourself since it is a stereotype to assume that stereotypes are true)

Point four was a joke, which you didn't get, and that's okay.

Point three I should clarify. Stereotypes never apply across the board, and not even all the time with the individual. When they do, it's because of the culture the individual grew up in, or the ideology that they have, not because of race. It's purely a matter of statistics, and is a fact. I should also add that while the information may be true, it's not generally useful. If some white kid who grew up in the ghetto dresses and talks like a rapper, that's the environment he grew up in. He's not trying to act like a rapper, or trying to act like a black guy. He is also, however, factually representing someone who grew up in the ghetto. Not all ghetto people act that way, but he is portraying a stereotype, so in this instance, for him, the stereotype is true. Does it matter as a useful piece of information? Not even remotely.

If you still disagree, I could say that you haven't lived long enough. You're too young to have met many people to know such statistics. That is a stereotype, and is possibly true. I can't confirm, but could probably bet on it, and it's irrelevant anyway. In the same way, I'm an older guy, have met many people, and especially in my age bracket runs a risk of being a know-it-all. This is also a stereotype, and is not really true, but is equally useless and nobody else has any way of confirming it either.

Point is, stereotypes are occasionally true but essentially useless things stemming usually from cultural or philosophical backgrounds. Don't worry about them.

1. You had no control over what color you were when you were born.
2. It's just stupid to think to determine whether or not you will like someone based upon the small gene (Melanin) in the smallest organ (The Skin) in the human body.
3. It's just dumb to believe stereotypes. Not every Muslim is a terrorist, not every black is a criminal, not every Hispanic is illegal and not every white person is well to do in the suburbs.

Personally, I believe that many stereotypes and racial hatred is founded by the media as a tool to keep the races divided to stop us from unifying as a nation against the powerful forces at the top that are taking advantage of us. While we look at our neighbors with a suspicious eye, our rights are being stripped away, we're being taxed into oblivion, our jobs are being shipped out, and we're getting fleeced everywhere from the gas pump to the mortgage on the home. While we're so afraid that the Chinese are going to take us over, the Arabs are here to bomb us, the blacks are here to rob us and the Mexicans are here to steal our income and be a burden on welfare, it's really those in control of this nation who do us the most harm.

Nevertheless, people still treat each other like trash based on nothing more than skin tone and facial features. It's stupid.

What are your thoughts on racism?

I know it's an older thread, but I have to agree. Racism is about the dumbest set of views a person can hold. Is there any reason to really believe one race has some kind of set of characteristics that makes it inherently better than another?

For that matter, how are we defining race anyway? What's the way we draw distinctions? Is there some systematic way we can use to classify people into "races" or is it a bunch of arbitrary distinctions we're trying to make between large groups of people? We really seem to use a funny combination of skin tone, religion, and language to classify people all over the place (e.g. Black, White, Jewish, Muslim, Hispanic, Chinese, etc). Race really seems to be defined, at least in some small part, through social means.

Conclusion: In a society that breeds individuality and competitive ethos racism provides the losers with an opportunity to oppress another (as a group) as compensation of own misery whist overlooking the obvious disadvantages of the capitalist system.

I appreciated the links; I skimmed through because, well, I have to read too much already, but it at least reminded me of when I was a bit more knowledgeable in the area. I did have to be a little suspicious since the articles dated back to the 70s; then again, that isn't bad in and of itself.